SKILLED WORK?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 11

SKILLED WORK?

"PUTTING JAM ON SPONGES."

ARBITRATION COURT HAD TO

DECIDE.

"ENTRANCING, COMIC, TRAGIC." *

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day

Humorous reference to the duties which at times fall to the lot of members of the Arbitration Court were made by Professor B. E. Murphy, of Victoria University College, at the National Industrial Conference to-day. Professor Murphy said that reference had been made by several speakers to the case of an application for an interpretation as to whether putting jam and cream on sponges was skilled or unskilled work, and it had been implied that the incident originated in the depths of his imagination. That was not so.

"The incident was so rich," said Pro- ] fessor Murphy, "that I will quote the records of the whole entrancing, comic, tragic incident. The Court was asked to decide whether women engaged in putting jam and cream in sponge cakes should be paid at journeywomen's rates or at two-thirds of those rates. The decision was that the work was unskilled, and it was solemnly signed by his Honor the King's Judge, Mr. Justice Frazer." (Laughter.) "I admit quite frankly that I have never appeared before the Arbitration Court," said the professor, "but I think you will agree that it is possible for an outsider, particularly a lawyer, to know something of its working. The suggestion was made that I knew nothing about the Court, and I think that was a little unfair."